Summary: Youth are blessed with many God given talents that are useful in the fight for freedom, justice and liberty.

a) Everyone’s sensitivities have been challenged by the increasingly horrific assaults upon the children and youth of our community. Parents themselves who are children attempting to raise children without the benefit of a successful parenting model. Who would leave a young child with an immature youth as a caregiver?

b) While these situations are tragic and traumatizes our psyche, the more brutal assault upon our children and youth is systemic.

2. It is when societal systems marginalize our youth (generation X, at-risk children, special ed, without special resources)

a. the assault is on their minds – mentalcide

b. the assault is on their means – eliminate opportunities to earn income

c. the assault is on their manner – lifestyle choices

3. We need our youth (Red and yellow, black and white they are all precious in his sight, for he loves the little children of this world)

b. Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, is their champion (later we will find that he has brothers that cause Israel problems) challenges Israel to fight.

c. Jesse sends David with some food to feed his brothers

d. David finds them running from the enemy and afraid

e. King Saul told the Israelities that whoever would kill Goliath would receive three things:

1) great riches

2) his daughter

3) family would have to pay no taxes

f. David takes the deal

g. His brothers’ challenge him and David asks: Is there not a cause?

9. Look at the advancement of African Americans, particularly the civil rights movement. While the strategists where the adults of the community, but it weren’t until the youth got into the movement with their sit-ins (North Carolina A&T, Morgan, and other HBCU’s) that the movement picked up stream.

10. South Africa and the apartheid, Mandela and the movement needed the energy of the children of Soweto to break the back of the racist regime. It cause Libe Sifre to pen these lines,

The higher you build your barriers

The taller I become

The farther you take my rights away

The faster I will run

You can deny me

You can decide to turn your face away

No matter, because there’s

Something inside so strong

I know that I can make it

Though you’re doing me wrong, so wrong

You though that my pride was gone

On no, there’s something inside so strong.

11. A few weeks ago, A foundation I work with The Academic Achievement Award Foundation that provides incentives to students for their academic achievement held its awards ceremony at Morgan. There where 340 students recognized, over 1,500 parents and teachers in attendance. 55 of the students where 5th graders, 47 of those 5th graders attended to receive their awards, of the 47 that attended when the offer was made for those who choose, they would receive a free one year membership to the NAACP, 43 students signed up (over 90%).